We Pay to Spay Sponsor Opportunity

PostDecember 19, 2016

Shelters like the Sacramento SPCA care for thousands of homeless and surrendered animals each year. Because of limited space and resources, not all animals are able to receive the help they so desperately need. Spaying and/or neutering your dog will ensure more dogs are not surrendered to the Sacramento SPCA. While all breeds are at risk for overpopulation and homelessness, a high percentage of animals surrendered at community shelters are pit bull and pit bull mixes (pit bull/mixes). In 2015, 22% of dogs surrendered to the Sacramento SPCA were classified as pit bull or pit bull mixes. This classification can be a deterrent to adoption and many times, these dogs are in the shelter system longer than any other breed.

When a pit bull/mix is not spayed or neutered, there is a higher risk of surrender should the female dog become pregnant. According to the Dog Breeding Info Center , the average litter size of a pit bull/mix is 5-10 puppies. Within five years, one unaltered female dog and her offspring can produce 324 offspring. Because of the large average litter, many owners cannot place the puppies in homes and they are surrendered.

To address the rising population of pit bull/mixes and surrenders, the “We Pay to Spay” (WPTS) program was instituted by the Sacramento SPCA in October of 2002. Funded by the County of Sacramento and the Sacramento SPCA, the purpose of the program is to provide free spay or neuter surgeries for pit bull/mixes within our community. To date we have sterilized more than 11,000 pit bull/mixes – at no cost to the owners. In 2015 alone, 642 pit bull/mixes were spayed/neutered at the Sacramento SPCA.

At a cost of $60,000 per year to run the WPTS program, we need your help. Your onetime gift of $600 will cover one full day of surgeries-that’s 6-8 pit bull/mixes that will be spayed or neutered. We currently have 50 opportunities available for sponsorship. Each week, the name of the sponsor will be displayed in the Spay and Neuter Clinic, listed on the SSPCA’s website and publicized on Social Media.

To learn more about how you can sponsor one of the available WPTS clinics, contact Sarah Haney, Director of Development, at 916.504.2805 or email shaney@sspca.org.